Electrical connector with conductor retainers



0. DA'NNES ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WITH CONDUCTOR RETAINER-S Oct.- 29, 1968Filed May 25, 1967 INVENTOR. Dim! Dmmts rray/n6 v United States Patent3,408,455 ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WITH CONDUCTOR RETAINERS Dennie Dannes,Norwalk, Conn., assignor to Burndy Corporation, a corporation of NewYork Filed May 25, 1967, Ser. No. 641,362 2 Claims. (Cl. 174-94)ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An electrical tap connector of thecompression type having a pair of channels for receiving conductorstherein, and a bendable element adjacent each channel adapted to be usedfor temporarily retaining conductors in the channels prior tocompression of the connector.

This invention relates to electrical connectors for wires or cables, andmore particularly, to compression connectors used for joining a runconductor to"a tap conductor.

In the attachment of a secondary conductor or line, such as a tap-off ordrop line, to an installed main line in a conventional electricaldistribution system it is generally desirable to use a connector whichcan be placed or hooked over the conductors rather than requiring axialinsertion of the conductor into a bore. However, connectors of this typegenerally present a problem of retaining the conductors within theconnector openings prior to deformation. This problem is heightened inthat the connectors are often gripped at the tip of a long handled toolduring installation, so that it generally is not possible to manuallyhold the conductors in place while the installation tool is beingpositioned.

The connectors presently available for forming con nections between mainlines and tap lines generally include a partially closed channel throughwhich the tap line is threaded and an open channel adapted to hook overthe main line. The open channel of the known connectors may have someform of temporary restraint such as a resilient flange or tab adapted tobe manually deformed against the inserted main line conductor. Otherconnectors have been provided with two open channels and twocorresponding flanges, but these have been found to be relativelycomplex parts, difficult to form and comparatively expensive to produce.

Accordingly an object of this invention is to provide a simple,inexpensive connector for a pair of conductors which will retain eachconductor effectively and conveniently prior to compression.

Another object is to provide a one-piece connector having open separatedchannels for a pair of conductors with a pair of integrally formedrestraining members for preliminary securement of the connector to theconductors prior to compression of the conductor.

Another object is to provide such a compression connector for run andtap conductors which can accommodate a Wide range of conductor sizes,and which includes manually deformable means for temporarily retainingconductors in the connector.

These and other objects, features, and advantages of this invention willbecome more apparent through referenceto the following description takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connector embodying this invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the connector of this invention; and

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the connector in preliminaryrestraining condition.

Referring to the drawings more particularly, there is shown a one-piececonnector of generally E-shaped cross section, formed by a C-shaped body10 with arms 12, 14 and a central web 16 disposed within the C-sha-pedbody. The web 16 comprises a base portion 18 and retaining elements 20,22 which are integrally connected to the base portion 18 by bendablereduced thickness hinge portions 24, 26 respectively. Two conductorreceiving channels 28, 30 are thus defined.

In use, a tap conductor (not shown) may be inserted transversely intoeither cavity 28 or 30, and one of the movable retaining elements or 22may be manually bent over against the conductor to effectively lock itin place. The connector may then be hooked over the main or runconductor by transverse insertion into the remaining one of channels 28or 30. The other of elements 20 or 22 may then manually be bent downagainst the man conductor to lock that conductor in place prior tocompression. With both conductors thus held in place, the connector thenmay be placed in a compression tool and compressed to complete theconnection. Under compression, the arms 12, 14 are deformed forciblyinto enclosing engagement about both the conductors and the central web16. The central web thus serves the dual function of locking theconductors in place prior to compression, and of separating the twoconductors to enhance galvanic corrosion resistance in instances wherethe two may be of dissimilar metals. Although the movable elements 20,22 and base portion 18 need not be made to any specific length, they arepreferably dimensioned so as to assure continued separation of theconductors within the connector during and after compression.

The invention has thus been described but it is desired to be understoodthat it is not confined to the particular form or usage shown anddescribed; the same being merely illustrative, and that the inventionmay be carried out in other ways without departing from the spirit ofthe invention, and therefore, the right is broadly claimed to employ allequivalent instrumentalities coming within the scope of the appendentclaims, and by means of which objects of this invention are attained andnew results accomplished, as it is obvious that the particularembodiments herein shown and described are only some of the many thatcan 'be employed to obtain these objects and accomplish these results.

What is claimed is:

1. An electrical connector of malleable conductive metal, comprising: aunitary body member of substantially C-shape, including a back portionand two arm portions; an integral and stationary central web portionattached to said back portion and interposed between said arm portions;said back, arms, and central web defining two channels extendinglongitudinally in said connector; each channel having a longitudinalopening along one side thereof to receive a transversely inserted conductor; said central web portion including two integral bendableretainer portions extending therefrom and initially disposed inlongitudinal alignment so that they may stationary central web.

2. The connector of claim 1 wherein said bendable portions are connectedwith said stationary web portion through integral reduced thicknessportions, said reduced thickness portions being manually deformable topermit non-elastic deformation of each bendable portion toward adifferent one of said arm portions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,053,930 9/1962 Mallanik et a1.174-94 DARRELL L. CLAY, Primary Examiner.

